Toothbrush



J. J. FlTZ-GIBBON.

TOOTHBRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1919.

Patented July 13, 1920.

lNl/E/VTOH vTJIJHN llFITZ-GIBEUN wo uu afi M ATTORNEY J'QHN J.lEI'lZ-GIBBON, 0F HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

roo'rnnnusn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, l92.

Application filed April 12, 1919. 'serial Ito. 289,562.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN J. Frrz-Grn- BON, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of Holyoke, in thecounty of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful linprovements in Toothbrushes, of which the.

following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in tooth brushes, and its leadingobject is to provide a tooth brush having bristles facing in thedirection of movement or the line of force of the brush against theteeth, whereby a scaling action will be produced upon the surfaces ofthe teethby the ends of the bristles or tufts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brush with a relativelylarge opening formed in the brush back or head and bristles associatedtherewith to provide a pocket for holding the dentifrice or sterilizingmedium employed.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide a brush whichwill clean the spaces between the teeth the surfaces facing the tongue,the surfaces adjacent the cheeks and permit of the convenientapplication of a dry dentifrice for the treatment of pyorrhea.

With the above and other objects in view the invention relates tocertain new and useful combinations, constructions and arrangements ofparts, clearly described in the following specification,.- and fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation 0 proved tooth brush.

Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the filler opening in the brush back orhead.

Fig. 3 is a face View showin the arrange ment of the converging bristes.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken across the brush-head.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, 5designates a handle of suitable construction which is provided at itsforward end with a brush head or back 6. lhis brush head or back 6 isformed with a relatively large oblong filler opening 7 disposedlongitudinally thereof and extending through said head or back.

The brush head or back 6 is thus provided with similar side portions 8and 9 and end my importions 10 and 11 in which the bristles or cleansingelements are embedded. In the side portion 8 a series of brush tufts orclusters 12 are arranged with their inner ends suitably embedded oranchored to the portion 8 while a series of brush tufts or clusters ofbristles 13 are embedded or suitably anchored in the side portion 9. lheseries 12 and the series 13 converge inwardly so that their tips are butslightly spaced from each other. (in the portion 10 a brush tuft la isembedded at its inner end and extends inwardly toward the tips of theseries 12 and 13 and are sharply inclined relative thereto so that thetips of said tufts M will engage the lingual surfaces of the teeth. 0nthe portion 11 a cluster of tufts are embedded at their inner ends orotherwise anchored in place and said tufts project toward the outer endof the brush head and are preferably of the same length as the tufts ofthe series 12 and 13.

The bristles are so disposed on the brush head as to provide adentifrice holding chamber or pocket and the opening 7 per-. mits of thedeposition ofthe dentifrice in said chamber or pocket throughthe back ofthe brush head. This feature is found exceedingly valuable in thetreatment of pyorrhea, in which the use of a dry dentifrice isrecommended.-

l'n using my improved brush the tips of the various tufts or clusters ofbristles project against the surfaces of the teeth in such manner that athorough cleansing of the various surfaces of the teeth is accomplished.

After a person has cleaned his or her teeth it is important that thebristles be sterilized immediately and by depositing a small amount ofthe dentifrice in the filler opening the bristles and the brush head canbe rendered sterile and hot water can be applied from the bases or rootsof the tufts to displace any particles of food or decayed matteraccumulated thereon.

It is seen, therefore, that my improved brush insures a more efficientcleansing action and a more satisfactory distribution of f thedentifrice against the teeth during the cleansing action as thedentifrice will naturally flow against the tips of the bristles when thesame are brushed against the teeth, whereby a self-feeding actionresults.

Having described my invention 1 claim: 1. A. tooth brush having a headformed with a longitudinal opening extending 7 side of said opening witha longitudinal row of brush tufts, each row being inclined to- Ward thelongitudinal median line of the brush head, the ends of the brush tuftsbeing disposed adjacent to each other and of V shaped formation.

2. A tooth brush having a head provided on each side with a longitudinalrow of brush tufts, each row being inclined toward the longitudinalmedian line of the brush head, the ends of the brush tufts beingdisposed adjacent to each other and having end lemme portions ofV-shaped formation, there being i no tufts between the inclinedlongitudinal 15 rows of tufts, said head being formedwith a longitudinalopening located between the rows of tufts and said head being providedwith a tuft located near the opposite ends of said opening and inclinedtoward each 20 other.

Signed by me in presence of a subscribing witness.

-. JOHN J. FlTZ-GIBBON.

Witness:

F. J. MOKAY.

